UPDATE: 6:11 p.m. ET.
Opposition leaders declined a deal offered to them by embattled Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Saturday, which was meant to end unrest and resolve Ukraine's current political gridlock. Yanukovych had offered top government positions to Arseniy Yatseniuk and Vitali Klitschko.
Ukrainian Justice Minister Olena Lukash said in a statement published to the presidential website that Yanukovych said he would dismiss current Prime Minister Mykola Azarov if Batkivschyna party leader Yatseniuk agrees to replace him. The president extended the position of deputy prime minister of humanitarian affairs to boxer-turned-UDAR party leader Klitschko.
But speaking shortly after the meeting to a crowd of thousands who had gathered at Independence Square, Klitschko declined the offer, and said that the opposition would continue negotiations with the president.
"Yanukovych agreed to many of our demands. On others, we will continue to look for compromise," Klitschko said.
Yatseniuk gave his answer via Twitter. "No deal, [President Yanukovych]. We're finishing what we started. The people decide our leaders, not you."
No deal @ua_yanukovych, we're finishing what we started. The people decide our leaders, not you. #Євромайдан— Arseniy Yatsenyuk (@Yatsenyuk_AP) January 25, 2014
The deal came after more than three hours of negotiations with opposition leaders, and during what has been the most tumultuous week since anti-government protests began two months ago.
Yanukovych’s decision to reject a political and trade deal with the European Union sparked the protests in late November. But it was violent police actions against protesters in December that brought crowds of more than 100,000 to Independence Square in downtown Kiev.
Brutal clashes between police and protesters this week further inflamed protesters, who responded by taking over more than a dozen government buildings in nearly as many regions of the country.
As part of Yanukovych’s deal, all protesters arrested during mass demonstrations would be released if those on Kiev's Hrushevskoho Street leave. At least two men are dead after police and protesters clashed there this week.
Yanukovych would also consider amending Ukraine's constitution to roll back his powers, and hold public debates with Klitschko, who is thought to be his likeliest challenger in presidential elections next year. Klitstchko has surpassed the incumbent in multiple independent polls conducted over the past several months.
The deal would also provide amnesty for protesters in exchange for returning control of government buildings seized by anti-government protesters in 13 regions to authorities. Those buildings include Kyiv city hall and the Trade Unions building, which protesters have occupied since Dec. 1.
Not included in the deal was the repeal of strict anti-protest laws pushed through parliament last week, and early presidential elections, both key opposition demands.
The thousands of anti-government protesters on Independence Square, or Euromaidan as it is called, made clear what they thought of the deal, chanting “Out with the gang!” as Klitschko spoke about Yanukovych.
"Right now, we control almost half of the country; we’ve taken over government building[s] in all of western Ukraine,” activist Kateryna Kruk told Mashable by phone after the deal was announced. “And now [Ukrainians] are waking up in the south and east. We are in very good position [to force Yanukovych] out of office.”
Shortly after opposition leaders spoke from the main stage in Independence Square, protesters attempted to overtake another building. Thousands of them stormed the Ukrainian House, an exposition center that backs up to Hrushevskoho Street in Kiev, after news that riot police had moved into the building during the day.
Windows of Ukrainian House shattered. Protesters hurling firecrackers inside, police spraying water outside. #Kyiv #Ukraine— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) January 25, 2014
Protesters hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails through its window, as police forces fired water from hoses and rubber bullets from shotguns to keep protesters out.